Multiple Series Cancelled Ahead Of 2019 Upfronts

Black Friday, the annual Friday before the TV network upfronts next week, is always a bloodbath and today has proven no different.

Hot on the heels of FOX cancelling “Lethal Weapon,” “Star,” “The Passage” and “The Cool Kids” along with earlier axings “The Gifted” and “Rel,” the other networks are following suit. CBS has axed the Dianne Wiest & James Brolin-led “Life In Pieces” after four seasons, the “Murphy Brown” revival, the Nina Dobrev-led “Fam” and the Damon Wayans Jr.-led “Happy Together.”

NBC has scrapped its legal comedy “Trial and Error” and the Amy Poehler-produced “I Feel Bad,” but has handed out a fifth season renewal to “Blindspot”. Over on ABC they’ve scrapped “Speechless” after three seasons, the Shondaland legal drama “For the People,” the Marcia Clark-created “The Fix,” the summer procedural “Take Two,” newcomer “The Kids Are Alright,” and the family comedy “Splitting Up Together”. At the same time, ABC has renewed “The Rookie,” “Bless This Mess,” “American Housewife,” “Single Parents” and “Fresh Off the Boat”.

The real surprise there was ‘Boat’, not because of the renewal but rather the show’s star and “Crazy Rich Asians” breakout actress Constance Wu who took to Twitter shortly after the announcement and said: “So upset right now that I’m literally crying. Ugh. F–k” and added “F–king hell.” shortly after. When a fan tweeted congratulations on the good news of the renewal, she replied “No, it’s not” and subsequently posted a ‘dislike’ on the show’s official Instagram announcement.

Wu has since frantically back peddled, tweeting out: “Today’s tweets were on the heels of rough day & were ill timed w/the news of the show. Plz know, I’m so grateful for FOTB renewal. I love the cast&crew. I’m proud to be a part of it. For all the fans support, thank u & for all who support my casual use of the word f–k – thank u too.”

Another surprise is that CBS has renewed “Bull,” despite this week’s news Amblin Television is walking away from producing the Michael Weatherly–led series. Producers Steven Spielberg, Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey are no longer attached to the show.